Piper J3C-65 accident near Eagle Harbor, Michigan, October 17, 2026
On October 17, 2026 at about 5:04 pm local time, a 1946 Piper J3C-65, registered N3368N, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Eagle Harbor, Michigan (Lake Bailey airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 17, 2026 · about 5:04 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Eagle Harbor, Michigan · Lake Bailey · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-65, built 1946 · all J3C-65s on the register
- Registration
- N3368N · registry record · serial 22568
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Roll over during takeoff defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 10 knots, gusting 27
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 pm from KP59, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KP59 171651Z AUTO 29010G27KT 240V340 12/M06 A3015 RMK AO1 PK WND 33033/1632 SLP212 T01221056
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N3368N on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper J-3 Cub 3,804 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,845 aircraft on the register
- Accidents and incidents in Michigan 2,107 since 1982 · 230 in the last ten years
- Michigan 7,224 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN27LA026.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.